To the

Young
Women
of Malolos
-Jose Rizal


- February 22, 1889

- London

- Marcelo H. del Pilar

The story behind this letter is this:
December 12, 1888, group of 20 young women of Malolos petitioned
Governor-general Weyler for permission to open a "night school" to study
Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko.

Fr. Felipe Garcia, Spanish parish priest, objected so that the governor-
general turned down the petition.

However, the young women, in defiance of the friar's wrath bravely
continued their agitation for the and finally succeeded in obtaining
government approval to their project on condition that Senorita
Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher.
The incident caused a great stir in the Philippines and in far-away Spain.
Del Pilar, writing in Barcelona on February 17, 1889, requested Rizal to
send a letter in Tagalog to the brave women of Malolos.

Accordingly, Rizal, although busy in London annotating Morga's book,
penned this famous letter and sent it to Del Pilar on February 22, 1889
for transmittal to Malolos.

Issues tackled in the writing of Rizal entitled The
Young Women of Malolos
Inequality between men and women,
Slavery done by the Spaniards because of ignorance,
Fraud religious beliefs brought by the friars,
The role of mothers in the family,
Tyranny of some because of the cowardice and
Negligence on the part of others,
Unreligious acts of the friars towards the Filipinos,
Education not given to other Filipinos by the Spaniards,
The abuse of the Spaniards because of the hospitality of the Filipinos.
it was his way of recognition for them as brave Filipinas who are no longer blinded by the
fraud religious believes brought by the friars


he mentioned about our own freedom as individual human beings that we must have our
own judgement of what is right and wrong.


As a young lady soon to be a mother of her sons and daughters would set as an example to
her children.


As the saying goes a fruit would grow the same as of its tree.



If only the Filipinas were like the women of Spartan who have power over their men,
maybe no one would dare to touched or harassed a woman.


Rizal wanted to make his people open their eyes and to avoid ignorance of freedom.


He did not want its people to live without a religious belief but he just wants them
apprehend not to be deceived by the exploitations done by the friars under their robes.


He addresses all kinds of women mothers, wives, the unmarried.

Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino
mothers have to possess:

QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS

1. Be a noble wife.

2. Rear her children in the service of the state here Rizal gives reference to the
women of Sparta who embody this quality

3. Set standards of behavior for men around her.
RIZALS ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN
AND WOMEN
- they should not be easily taken by appearances and looks, because these can be
very deceiving.
- they should take heed of mens firmness of character and lofty ideas.
Rizal further adds that there are three things that a young woman must look for a man
she intends to be her husband:
1. A noble and honored name
2. A manly heart
3. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.

ANALYSIS :
To the Women of Malolos centers around five salient points

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and fellowmen.

2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in
defense of their country.

3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.

4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good racial values.

5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living the real Christian
way with good morals and manners.